Aangan

Nigdi 1 is a quiet area compared to the rest of the city. My place is called Aangan, and I tried to make it feel a bit like a courtyard, which is what the name means. We have a bit of open space in the front where people can stand and talk. It’s not a very big operation. I have a few people helping me out, mostly family and some local boys. We get our supplies from the market early in the morning. The chairs are just basic plastic ones, and the tables have seen better days, but they work fine. I don't see the point in spending too much on things that don't matter. People come here because it feels familiar, I guess. We don't have a big sign with lights, just a simple board with the name Aangan on it. Sometimes the neighbors complain if we stay open too late and get a bit noisy, so I try to wrap things up by ten. I’ve lived in Nigdi my whole life, so I know almost everyone who walks past the gate. It’s a comfortable life. I spend my afternoons sitting by the entrance, watching the children play in the street. The walls could use a fresh coat of paint, and maybe I’ll get to that next year. For now, it’s just about getting through the daily tasks and making sure things run okay.